Vimeo of the Day: Mauna Kea Heavens Timelapse

By Michael J.W. Stickings

I picked this one not just because it's some gorgeous timelapse photography of the awesome night sky as viewed from a leading observatory in Hawaii, and not just because I'm fascinated by space and our efforts to learn and understand what's out there, but because the music is the brilliant "All is Violent, All is Bright" by God is an Astronaut, one of my favorite bands.

As astronomer/photographer Sean Goebel explains:

Timelapse of the observatories atop Mauna Kea, Hawaii. The summit is at an altitude of nearly 14,000 ft and is the premiere site for astronomy in the Northern Hemisphere. As an astronomy graduate student at the University of Hawaii, I've enjoyed excellent access to the facility. Some of my favorite still images of Mauna Kea can be found at sgphotos.com/photostories/maunakea.

This montage was filmed on three nights in April (I was observing on one of the telescopes and would walk outside when things got boring) and four nights during summer 2013. More information (i.e. "What's up with the lasers?" "What gear did you use?") can be viewed at sgphotos.com/portfolio/timelapse/makingmaunakeaheavens/.

Turn off the lights. Turn up the sound. And enjoy.

Mauna Kea Heavens Timelapse from Sean Goebel on Vimeo.